What You Should Know About Emotional Trauma And Healing
The process of emotional healing can be a challenging and life-changing experience. It involves addressing painful life experiences, changing your own beliefs, and working towards becoming a less self-abusive, less critical, and more productive person. By focusing on the present moment and applying cognitive techniques, you can make great progress in your healing journey.
Stressful events may often lead to emotional trauma, which can sometimes lead to serious conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, different treatment options, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes, can help aid emotional healing. Online therapy can be a convenient alternative to in-person therapy, and has been found to be just as effective.
Causes Of Emotional Trauma
Different stressful and traumatic events can cause emotional trauma. Painful life experiences, such as divorce and abuse, can be long-lasting and severely affect a person’s emotions and emotional health. Even a one-time event, like a car accident or sports injury, can cause severe trauma, rampant anxiety, or confusing emotions. Other possible causes of trauma and difficult emotions include:
Going through a severe illness such as cancer or undergoing surgery
Experiencing the death of a loved one
Becoming injured from a physical attack
Living in a high-crime area
Living through a natural disaster
Witnessing an accident
Surviving an abusive relationship
Going through trauma can leave you with overwhelming emotional distress. Even if this traumatic event occurred a while ago, it could affect your emotional well-being for years without treatment. Certain events could trigger more emotional distress over time if the problem remains unresolved.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in any form, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for 24/7 support, advice, and assistance.
Symptoms Of Emotional Trauma
People who struggle with emotional trauma may lack direction or support for their emotional healing journey. Negative emotions and unpleasant memories can bring about serious mental health concerns. Sometimes, people can be in denial of their own beliefs, emotions, and trauma. Other times, they may be confused and need help processing the trauma to move toward healing.
You may experience the following symptoms after a traumatic emotional event:
Nightmares
Intrusive thoughts or memories of the event, often out of the blue
Emotions of shock or denial
Trouble sleeping or insomnia
Inability to maintain close and healthy relationships
Depression and hopeless emotions
Withdrawal from friends and family
Irritability
Hostility toward others
Guilt or shame
Anxiety or social anxiety
Feeling disconnected or numb to the world
Confusion
Anger issues
Mood swings
Panic attacks
Irritability
Obsessions and/or compulsions
Everyone can experience emotional pain differently, so emotional healing may not look the same for any two people. You might experience a few or several symptoms at once. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are the result of emotional pain or something more serious, like bipolar disorder or psychosis, you might wish to talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
Signs You Might Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If you find that your symptoms are not improving or are worsening over time, you may be experiencing PTSD, which is a serious mental health condition that generally arises from experiencing trauma.
Many people associate PTSD with combat veterans. While veterans can experience PTSD, people outside the military can also develop it. Living through or witnessing a particularly stressful event where you felt helpless can bring about symptoms of PTSD.
Common symptoms of PTSD include:
Nightmares about the event
Severe emotional stress from triggers of the event
Flashbacks of the event that make you feel as though you are reliving it
Trouble remembering certain parts of the event
Attempting to avoid talking about or thinking about the traumatic event
Detachment from loved ones
Being easily startled or constantly surveying your surroundings for signs of danger
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please consider speaking with a doctor as soon as possible. They may refer you to a mental health professional who can formulate a treatment plan, which may lead to less emotional distress. The sooner you start your healing journey, the sooner you may start to feel better.
Physical Trauma And Emotional Healing
Physical trauma can coincide with emotional trauma when recovering from an accident, combat, or abuse. Anyone, regardless of age or gender, can experience physical trauma, such as brain injury or head trauma, which can affect emotional development as a person grows older.
Survivors of abuse may incur severe physical injuries that require physical therapy and other forms of emotional healing treatment. In addition, they may require psychotherapy and other emotional support services to help them cope with complicated feelings related to trauma. This trauma can sometimes have extensive effects on an individual.
The Connection Between Physical And Emotional Pain
Emotional pain may hurt just as bad as physical pain, though in a different way. In many regards, the two can be interconnected. When someone has deep emotional pain, they may experience physical ailments as a result. When someone is experiencing emotional pain, they may experience any of the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Headaches
Stomach problems
Sweating
Numbness
Restlessness
Insomnia
Weakness
Dizziness
There may be a clear link between emotional and physical symptoms and a clear link between physical and emotional healing. Rather than looking at physical and emotional pain as separate entities, many doctors and mental health professionals have begun looking at them together. One may affect the other, and vice versa.
Of course, some things may be purely emotional or purely physical. However, it’s clear that the two can exist on more of a spectrum or continuum rather than being entirely separate. Emotional healing can sometimes help alleviate physical pains, too.
Emotional Pain In Children And Teenagers
Physical and emotional trauma can occur early in childhood. Children and adolescents who live in an emotionally or physically abusive home environment, witness domestic or emotional abuse between their parents, undergo surgery, or experience a serious illness may experience emotional distress.
When you live through a traumatic event as a child and are not given time to process those emotions or begin healing, you may see the effects well into adulthood. Seeking treatment for it as soon as possible can be crucial in helping you cope with the complicated feelings it has caused and allowing you to reconnect with others. As you grow up, emotional healing can help ensure you maintain a healthy mindset.
The Emotional Healing Journey
Transforming from a self-abusive person to a less self-abusive person requires self-reflection, self-compassion, and the willingness to make changes. Becoming a less critical person and more productive person can be achieved by addressing one's anxious nature and learning how to manage rampant anxiety. In some cases, healing emotional distress may involve turning off the "anxiety switch" and becoming a calmer person.
Emotional healing requires understanding that only you can make all the difference in your life. By recognizing that a personality upgrade is possible, you can become a less egoistic person and develop a stronger, healthier sense of self.
Rampant anxiety ruins the quality of life for many, and emotional healing takes time, effort, and patience. Incorporating various cognitive techniques and strategies may allow you to begin your healing journey and work towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Treatment Options For Recovering From Emotional Pain And Emotional Trauma
People who experience symptoms of conditions like PTSD, an anxiety disorder, or depression because of trauma can typically undergo emotional healing through evidence-based strategies like psychotherapy and group counseling.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is commonly used in emotional healing to treat cases of PTSD and other mental health issues. Patients who are living with these emotions and mental health concerns may learn how to challenge negative thought patterns and better cope with their symptoms through CBT.
Medication may also help you cope with your emotional healing, depending on the situation and condition. Always consult a medical professional for diagnosis or treatment before deciding to take any new medication.
Ways to Support Your Emotional Healing
Here are some ways you may support your health and your emotions if you’re working to heal and address your trauma:
Following a proper diet and fitness routine
Joining a support group
Making sleep a priority
Learning more about what you’re experiencing
Seeing a mental health professional
Avoiding alcohol and drugs
Meditating or practicing mindfulness
Journaling
Staying in touch with friends and other loved ones
Using deep breathing techniques
Doing yoga
Everyone may cope with stress and trauma in different ways because we are all unique individuals. Only you can determine which treatment helps you the most. You may need to try out a few emotional healing methods to find what works best.
Online Therapy May Help You Recover From Emotional Trauma
If you have experienced emotional trauma or believe you may be living with PTSD, please know that help is available. You may wish to consider therapy, whether face-to-face or online. With online therapy, you can find a therapist who you can speak with from your home or another familiar location with an internet connection.
According to one medically reviewed study, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, can be effective when administered online. CBT generally involves examining and adjusting thought patterns, which can positively affect your emotions and behaviors. This type of therapy is often used in treatment for emotional trauma and is sometimes used for PTSD as well.
Conclusion
Emotional trauma typically stems from highly stressful and emotional experiences. This type of trauma may have both emotional and physical symptoms, such as mood swings, panic attacks, hostility, feeling disconnected, stomach problems, and restlessness. Sometimes, emotional trauma may result in post-traumatic stress disorder, which can involve nightmares, flashbacks, detachment, and other symptoms. Healing emotional trauma may comprise different options, such as medication, lifestyle changes, and online therapy.
The process of healing the emotional and physical self can be long and arduous. If you have questions about either of these processes, the answers below may help.
How do you measure emotional intelligence?
Many workplaces use tests like the Salovey, Caruso, and Mayer exams to test their employees’ emotional intelligence.
What does it mean if someone has a low level of mental intelligence?
On average, people score 75 out of 100 on the Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Appraisal® test. People who score lower than this may have trouble controlling their emotions and getting along with others. People with low emotional intelligence can often be argumentative and may blame others or refuse to listen to them. Because they may not be attuned to other people’s emotions, they may often act insensitively. However, it can be possible to improve your mental intelligence. By practicing empathy and learning how to manage negative emotions, you may improve your emotional relationships with other people.
Can physical therapy assist with healing emotions?
People who experience physical injuries often live with emotional pain as well. This could be caused by brain damage or a severe injury. If you have experienced a traumatic injury, physical therapy may help you and your emotions heal from this event.
What happens if the trauma is left untreated?
Unresolved trauma can affect you later in life and can even make you vulnerable to experiencing further trauma. Symptoms related to anxiety, substance use disorders, anger, and depression may appear or worsen. As a result, you might begin to develop physical symptoms as well, such as gastrointestinal problems or fatigue.
Can trauma ever go away?
With treatment, you may learn how to work through trauma and heal. However, trauma can be different for everyone, so the process will likely depend on your symptoms, treatment, and a variety of other considerations. You may be faced with situations that trigger different symptoms. Keeping up with your treatment plan can be an important part of coping with these situations whenever they arise.
How long does it take to recover from a traumatic incident?
It can take weeks, months, or even longer to address what happened to you and learn to cope with it. That’s why it can be crucial to obtain help from a mental health professional. They may help you learn how to effectively address complex feelings associated with the trauma and manage your symptoms while healing.
What are the three types of trauma?
The three main types of trauma are acute, chronic, and complex trauma. Acute trauma can occur when a singular event occurs, such as a car accident or theft, and compromises someone’s safety. Chronic trauma typically involves repeated events over some time. Domestic violence and exposure to combat may cause chronic trauma. Complex trauma usually occurs through multiple events. For example, domestic violence and civil unrest can cause complex trauma.
Is emotional healing possible?
How do you heal someone emotionally?
Why is emotional healing important?
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